Guest Post by Jack Smith
A strong opening to a novel is, of course, important. If the opening is boring or off-putting in any way, the reader is likely not to read on. It is true that some readers will be patient and hope things pick up, but naturally you can’t count on that. There are four basic opening types in fiction: exposition (I mean by this expository prose), description, narrative summary, and narrative scene. They are all used by published writers, and one isn’t better or worse than the others. What’s important is deciding which works best in your novel.
Exposition, as a rhetorical mode, means explanation. Writers are sometimes steered away from an expository opening for fear of mere telling. Who wants to read a long, boring presentation (or telling) of background information setting up the story? Readers want to get directly involved in the conflict; they want to be pulled in. But don’t fear the expository mode—instead, work it to your advantage. Continue reading
